Macron meets Trump and Zelenskyy ahead of Notre Dame cathedral reopening

Dozens of world leaders to attend symbolic ceremony in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) next to US President-elect Donald Trump (C) at the end of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark Notre-Dame cathedral, in central Paris. AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron received US president-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, hours before the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral – a symbolic moment for France that was attended by dozens of world leaders.

Mr Trump, who arrived 40 minutes late for his meeting with the French President, said that they had enjoyed a good relationship during his previous mandate as president and would discuss geopolitical instability. "We had a good time together, and we had a lot of success, really great success working together,” Mr Trump said alongside Mr Macron ahead of bilateral talks. "And it certainly seemed like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we'll be talking about that.”

The war in Ukraine was high on the agenda. Mr Trump, who takes office in January, has promised to end the war there in one day. Some analysts believe he may force Ukraine to offer concessions to Moscow.

"We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” wrote Mr Zelenskyy on X.

"It's a great opportunity to anticipate what the positions of the president-elect will be” on Ukraine, said Patrick Martin Genier, Sciences Po University professor, speaking on BFMTV. "We know very well that he will be the centre of the negotiations, though we cannot talk about bilateral negotiations now because he cannot replace the Biden administration.”

Mr Trump landed on Saturday in Paris shortly before 7am and headed straight to the US embassy with a large convoy of cars. His visit is viewed as a diplomatic success by Mr Macron and may offer him an early opportunity to play the role of mediator between Europe and Washington. Mr Trump also held meetings with the UK's Prince William, according to Kensington Palace, and outgoing US first lady Jill Biden, who was attending after visiting Abu Dhabi and Doha. US President Joe Biden was not present.

Bad weather changes programme

Bad weather disrupted the reopening ceremony for Notre-Dame, forcing organisers to move events inside at the last minute. It officially reopened shortly after 7pm, when Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich knocked its doors with his crosier, a long staff which symbolises a bishop as shepherd to his people. X owner Elon Musk, who was recently appointed by Mr Trump to co-lead government efficiency under his mandate, made a surprise appearance at the ceremony.

In a nod to France's secularism, Mr Macron was initially scheduled to speak outside the 800-year old site. "We have rediscovered what great nations can do: achieve the impossible,” Mr Macron said, speaking inside the cathedral where major historical events including the crowning of Henry IV of England in 1431 and of Napoleon in 1804 took place. "This cathedral was thus the happy metaphor of what a nation is, and what the world should be.”

Notre Dame Cathedral before a formal reopening ceremony on December 7. AP

About 1,500 people attended the ceremony, which will be followed by a Mass on Sunday after the blessing of the altar. The Elysee confirmed the presence of more than 40 heads of state, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and former US Secretary of State John Kerry were also present, as well as Mr Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Massad Boulos. Listed among religious figures was Lebanon's Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai. Pope Francis was represented by apostolic nuncio to France, Celestino Migliore.

Mr Migliore delivered a message from the Pope, who called for free access to the newly-rebuilt cathedral after there was talk to charge tourists for its entrance. "Notre-Dame will soon be visited and admired again by an immense crowd of people from all walks of life, backgrounds, religions, languages and cultures, many of them in search of the absolute and meaning in their lives,” the Pope said.

Thousands of people had started to gather in the streets surrounding the cathedral hours before the start of the event. For those who wanted to get close to the cathedral, which was closed off by a security perimeter, individual security checks were mandatory. About 6,000 policemen and gendarme were on duty at the event.

Standing in the crowd of thousands of onlookers was Randy Yaloz, president of Republicans Overseas France. Wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, he told The National that Mr Trump had made "the right move” by coming to Paris for the reopening of the cathedral. "Americans consider [Notre-Dame cathedral] the heart of Christianity in Europe and for them the burning down of Notre-Dame was a big shock,” he said. "Mr Trump, as a believer, as a practising Christian and also supportive of many Christians in America, had to be here to support Notre-Dame.”

When the cathedral burnt down under his previous tenure as US president, Mr Trump had expressed strong concern, saying it was "so horrible” to watch. Five years later, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social page that Mr Macron had "done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre-Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”

Also in the crowd was Micherael Lapommeray, who said it was unthinkable to miss the ceremony. "As a Catholic, I think it was a duty for me to be here,” said Mr Lapommeray, a US citizen who lives in Paris. He said he would book a slot online to visit the cathedral as soon as it reopens to the public on December 16. "Notre-Dame is not just a religious symbol. It carries with it hundreds of years of French history and prestige.”

For Sophie Sardegna, 51, the cathedral was more a symbol of national pride than a spiritual symbol. "I've seen the pictures of the work that has been done, and I think it's even more beautiful than before. There's more light and more joy,” she said.

Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich leads clergy as they walk down the central isle of Notre-Dame Cathedral at the end of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark cathedral in Paris, December 7, 2024. REUTERS